Race vs ethnicity
Race” refers to physical differences that groups and cultures
consider socially significant, while “ethnicity” refers to
shared culture, such as language, ancestry, practices, and
beliefs
Racism
Racism is the belief that some human groups have particular (usually
physical) characteristics that make them superior or inferior to others.
Canadian Mosaic
Canada is one of the world’s most ethnically diverse nations. It
is often referred to as a “mosaic” rather than a “melting pot.”
* However, many racialized minorities report that they
experience discrimination and unfair treatment.
ie. like a salad bar
Chinese Immigration and the Head Tax start
Between 1881 and 1884, some 15,700 Chinese workers were
brought to Canada from China to work as contract labourers on
the Canadian Pacific Railway.
* After its completion, a series of laws were put in place to exclude
or limit the number of Chinese and South Asian immigrants to
Canada.
* Between 1885 and 1923, each Chinese immigrant had to pay a
flat fee known as a “head tax” in order to enter Canada.
* $50 in 1885 (raised to $100 in 1901 and to $500 in 1904; an
average 2-year wage for a Chinese person in Canada)
* “Undesirable” classes of immigrants
Chinese Immigration and the Head Tax end
- The head tax was eliminated in 1923,
but other laws that made it nearly
impossible for Chinese men to bring
their families to Canada remained in
place until 1947. - A lawsuit by Chinese Canadians
demanding compensation for the head
tax and other racially motivated
measures aimed at limiting immigration
from China.
CP Photo, Kevin
Frayer
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In 2005, the federal government signed a $2.5 million deal
with the National Congress of Chinese Canadians and 14
other Chinese-Canadian groups - On June 22, 2006, Stephan Harper formally apologized in Parliament for
What Is Anti-Semitism?
Anti-Semitism is prejudice against,
hatred of, or discrimination against
Jewish people as an ethnic,
religious, or racial group.
* A person who holds such positions
is called an anti-Semite.
* During and immediately after World
War II, the Canadian government
was reluctant to allow European
Jewish people to enter the country
as refugees.
Internment of Japanese Canadians start
During World War I and World War II, the Canadian
government instituted a policy of internment of
members of ethnic minority groups: “enemy aliens.”
* During WWII, Japanese Canadians were taken from
their homes and held in prison camps. Their homes,
businesses, and property were confiscated, as well.
* This forced eviction of Japanese Canadians from the
Pacific Coast in early 1942 was the greatest mass
movement in the history of Canada.
Internment of Japanese Canadians end
- It was not until 1949, four years after Japan had
surrendered, that most displaced Japanese Canadians
were allowed to return to British Columbia. - In 1988, the Canadian government settled with,
apologized to, and compensated surviving members of
the Japanese wartime community.
Islamophobia
- From 2010 to 2013, Muslim populations
had the highest percentage of female
hate-crime victims (47 percent). - This may be related to the fact that the
practice of wearing head coverings may
make religious identity more visible for
Muslim women than for men. - The National Council of Canadian
Muslims noted that a particularly high
percentage of attacks against individuals
involved Muslim women wearing hijabs.
African Canadians’ Experience of Racism
- Slavery was officially introduced in Canada by the French
in 1628 and was continued by the British until 1833-1834. - It was abolished in most parts of the British Empire on
August 1st, 1834. - The Underground Railroad
Anti-Black Racism
- The existence of anti-Black racism, racism toward Black people, should not be minimized.
- Black Canadians were subject to legislation that enforced segregated schools and communities and limited property rights.
- Not until 1953-1954 did Canada delete from its statutes discriminatory laws that denied Black citizens the right to pursue formal education, respectable jobs, welfare assistance, and civil and humanitarian rights.
- Despite this progress, many reports documenting the continuation of anti-Black racism suggests that much of the behaviour is not a matter of isolated events but is instead a systemic issue.
The Multiculturalism Act
In 1971, Canada became the first country to adopt
multiculturalism as an official policy.
* In 1988, the Multiculturalism Act restated and reinforced the
1971 policy, mandating that federal departments ensure
equal employment opportunities for ethnic and racial
groups.
* To implement the policy, the Canadian government
created the Multicultural Directorate, which developed a
range of programs designed to fulfill the policy’s
objectives.
“Visible Minorities”—An Outmoded Term
- The term “visible minorities” is still widely used in
government circles. - The term “visible minority” supports a practice whereby
non-white groups are categorized almost solely by race,
whereas white groups are not. - “Racialized minorities” or “racialized groups” is preferable.
- These newer terms make clear that race is not a
biological concept but a socially constructed one
Immigration to Canada
The Points System
- Past: Canada had discriminatory policies against non-
European and non-American immigrants. - Canada introduced the “points system” in 1967.
- “Nationality” was no longer a criteria in selecting new
immigrants; prospective immigrants could now qualify
based on criteria such as education, work experience,
language fluency, and age. - This had the effect of changing the source country
composition of immigrants to Canada. - Immigrants mainly arrived from northern and southern Europe, increasing numbers of immigrations would come from Asia, Africa, and South/Central Latin America
Enriching Canadian Lives
A recent increase in Canada’s racialized population has
had several effects:
* It has affected multiculturalism and anti-racism policies.
* It has enriched Canada and the lives of its citizens.
* Social workers face a new set of issues: they need to be sensitive to religious and cultural differences within the populations they serve. They also need to deal directly with the damaging effects of discrimination and racism on the personal well-being of their clients.
Anti-Racist Approaches
Front-line social workers are using innovative anti-racist
approaches that emphasize community empowerment to combat hate crimes. They are involved in acivities such as:
* Outreach and consultation,
* Awareness activities,
* Fostering the creation of advocacy and support groups, and
* Working with community organizations to promote an anti-racist perspective through education
Fighting Racism at Various Levels
Anti-racist social work practice involves addressing
racism at three levels, separately and simultaneously:
* Personal: Social workers’ own practices must be free
of racism and challenge racist practices by others.
* Institutional: Service agencies and other
organizations must pursue non-discriminatory policies
and practices.
* Societal: Legislation and government policies must
be changed to remove barriers to racial groups.
Cultural Knowledge
Familiarization with selected cultural
characteristics, history, values, belief
systems, and behaviors of the members
of another ethnic group
Cultural Tolerance
Tolerance of other races, cultures,
or people.
Cultural Competence
Integration of cultural differences that
results in an ability to work effectively
within another’s cultural context
What Are Hate Crimes?
Hate crimes are prejudice-motivated crimes that are often
violent and that occur when a perpetrator targets a victim
because of his or her:
* Ethnicity
* Disability
* Language
* Nationality
* Physical appearance
* Religion
* Gender identity, or
* Sexual orientation
Human Rights Codes in Canada
- National human rights legislation in Canada began
with the passage of the Canadian Bill of Rights in
1960. - Provinces soon enacted similar legislation, and by
1975 all provinces had human rights codes. - In general, both federal and provincial human rights
laws prohibit the dissemination of hate propaganda
and discrimination.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Essential Freedoms
In 1982, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
superseded the Canadian Bill of Rights. It guarantees:
* Freedom of conscience and religion, thought, belief,
opinion, and expression,
* Peaceful assembly and association,
* Democratic rights,
* Geographical mobility rights,
* Legal rights (including the right to life, liberty, and security of
person), and
* Equality rights regardless of race, national or ethnic origin,
colour, religion, sex, age, or mental or physical disability
Other Rights Affirmed by the Charter
- Equality of the English
and French
languages - The rights of children to
be educated in either
language - The rights of Canada’s
Indigenous peoples - The fact that all these
rights and freedoms are
guaranteed equally to
male and female persons
in Canada
